319mg of limescale minerals in every litre, the median across SG districts
Is Stevenage a hard water area?
Yes. Tap water across the SG postcode area is very hard, the top band on the scale water companies use, with a median of 319 mg/L calcium carbonate. It ranges from 273 mg/L in SG8 to 389 mg/L in SG12, from 18 districts with their own water company reading and 1 estimated from the area.
- Soft
- 0 to 60 mg/L
- Moderately soft
- 60 to 120 mg/L
- Slightly hard
- 120 to 180 mg/L
- Hard
- 180 to 200 mg/L
- Very hard
- 200 to 400 mg/L
Hardness by SG district
Hardest first. Hard starts at 180 mg/L, very hard at 250. Districts marked with an asterisk take the area's median rather than a reading of their own.
| District | Area | mg/L | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|
| SG12 | East Hertfordshire | 389 | very hard |
| SG9 | East Hertfordshire | 374 | very hard |
| SG4 | North Hertfordshire | 368 | very hard |
| SG5 | North Hertfordshire | 368 | very hard |
| SG11 | East Hertfordshire | 330 | very hard |
| SG10 | East Hertfordshire | 329 | very hard |
| SG7 | North Hertfordshire | 323 | very hard |
| SG2 | Stevenage | 321 | very hard |
| SG1 | Stevenage | 321 | very hard |
| SG19* | Central Bedfordshire | 319 | very hard |
| SG14 | East Hertfordshire | 316 | very hard |
| SG15 | Central Bedfordshire | 302 | very hard |
| SG3 | North Hertfordshire | 296 | very hard |
| SG13 | East Hertfordshire | 295 | very hard |
| SG6 | North Hertfordshire | 294 | very hard |
| SG17 | Central Bedfordshire | 292 | very hard |
| SG18 | Central Bedfordshire | 288 | very hard |
| SG16 | Central Bedfordshire | 285 | very hard |
| SG8 | North Hertfordshire | 273 | very hard |
What to do about it
Hard water: compare softener quotes
At 319 mg/L most SG homes get their money back on a softener within a few years. A filter will not touch limescale; only a softener does.
- Free quotes
- Local installers
- No obligation
Check your own district first
The area figure is a median. Your district can sit anywhere between 273 and 389 mg/L.
Softener quotes for Stevenage
At 319 mg/L most SG homes get their money back on a softener within a few years. Free quotes from installers covering your postcode.
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Before you buy
- Do I need a water softener?The hardness bands, the symptoms, and when the answer is no
- Best water softener UKHarvey, Kinetico, BWT, Monarch and Water2Buy compared
- Water softener costUnit, fitting and salt, and how long the payback takes
- Installation explainedWhere it goes, the bypass tap, the drain, DIY or plumber
- Harvey vs KineticoThe two premium twin-cylinder brands, side by side
- Softener salt guideTablet, block or granular, and how much you get through
- Salt-free softenersConditioners and electronic descalers, honestly assessed
Questions about Stevenage water
Is Stevenage a hard water area?
Yes. The median hardness across SG postcode districts is 319 mg/L calcium carbonate, which is very hard. 100% of the 19 districts we hold readings for are hard or very hard (180 mg/L and above).
What is the water hardness in Stevenage?
Between 273 and 389 mg/L depending on the district, with a median of 319. The hardest measured district is SG12 at 389 mg/L and the softest is SG8 at 273. Figures come from water company drinking-water tests, with postcode-area estimates for districts that have no reading of their own.
Do I need a water softener in Stevenage?
In most SG homes a softener pays for itself: at 319 mg/L kettles, boilers and showers scale up quickly. Check your own district first, because hardness varies from 273 to 389 within the area.
Hardness as mg/L calcium carbonate from water company drinking-water tests and postcode checkers. See the UK hardness map for every area.